Self-flashing louver

ABSTRACT

A wall system having ribbed wall panels with an opening receiving a louver whose frame is made of sheet metal formed with integral flashing which fits against the wall panels in such a way that no additional flashing is needed, the louver being recessed in the wall so that the adjustable blades are inside and are covered on the outside with a screen.

United States Patent 91 Hairston 3,771,5 2 [451 Nov. 13, 1973 5/1928 Jenkins...... 52/97 451 6/1966 Wills et al..

800 10/1970 Guttman....... 564 9/1965 Sitterly............................... 49/61 s 1 1 y a 9 1 v HWLW ""3 a "a t 0 6 ufiml ha u c a SCYP 0 34 3566 9999 1111 33 394 2472 762 5724 4382 750 233 2 %x 6 T X m m 0 0 H d we &0 .w r. Hh Q 03 W 74 R54 R o t n e v n I l. 6 7 1 [21] Appl. No.: 227,680

Related U.S. A lication Data pp Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Continuation of Ser. No. 69,728,

April 1970 Att0meyNed L. Conley 49/64 [57] ABSTRACT A wall system having ribbed wall panels with an opening receiving a louver whose frame is made of sheet metal formed with integral flashing which fits against the wall panels in such a way that no additional flashing is needed, the louver being recessed in the wall so that the adjustable blades are inside and are covered on the outside with a screen.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ma re BR 49 35 99 11 05 1 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented Nov; 13, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 305/ C. fla /)1: for? INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1973 3,771,582

3 Sheets-Sheet f3.

flay C. f/a/A: f0

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 1 SELF-FLASHING LOUVER This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 69,728 filed Apr. 9, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to louver and wall systems.

2. Description of the Prior Art Metal buildings are usually constructed with metal framework and ribbed paneling forming the outside walls, the paneling comprisingrectangular members having vertical ribs therein. Each panel is usually formed with a rib at each edge, andthe edge ribs are overlapped in joining the panels together to form a wall.

In many buildings constructed in this manner it is desirable to install louvers in the walls for ventilation purposes. Such louve'rs often are provided with horizontally disposed louver blades which are rigidly positioned, but in many cases the louver blades are pivotable so that the louvers'may be selectively opened and closed, as is made necessary because of weather conditions. I

I-Ieretofore it has been the practice to makean opening in the panel wall, form a frame around that Opening,

insert a cased louver into'the' framed opening, add flashing around the louver, and then fasten the louver and flashing assembly to the wall. Such systems are time consuming and expensive, and the louver systems heretofore available are often unsightly from both the exterior and the interior of the building due to their failure to blend smoothly in with the remainder of the wall system. Furthermore, the provision of a flashing material which is separate from the louver malres it difficult to insure that water leakage is completely prevented. Oftenit has been'necessary to provide substantial amounts of caulking around the louver and intermediate the flashing and the frame and louver elements.

A search of the prior art 'was made and the'following U. S. Pats. were found:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a wall and louver system in which the flashing forms an integral part of the louver. I

1t is another object of this invention to provide}; wall and louver system in which the louver fits flush with the outside of the wall so as to provide a pleasing exterior appearance.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wall and louver system which is quickly and easily installed without the necessity for added framing members to support the louver in the wall.

Another object is to provide a wall andlouver system which includes a screen covering the outside of the louver, the screen being substantially flush with the wall.

The integral flashing system of the presentinvention provides a louver of substantial strength so that it may be installed in a single unit in the wall, thereby greatly reducing the cost of such an installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a wallsystern according to this invention showing one embodiment of a louver according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of aportion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1; y

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1', 7

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion. of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, taken at line 44of FIG. 1; and I p v FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a panel wall 10 rests on a foundation 12, the panel wall consisting of individual panels 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28, having ribs 30 thereon. As is well known in the art such ribs are provided at each edge of such panels so thatthe ribs of adjacent panels will overlap each other and fit together when the wall is erected...

The panels 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are foreshortened to form an opening in which the louver 32 is positioned. In the embodiment shown the louver 32 is provided with a screen 34 which is substantially flush with the wall and covers the opening of the louver, thereby providing a smooth, attractive outside appearance. As

seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the louver is provided with a frame which consists of opposed sheet metal jambs 36, a sheet metal header 38, and a sheet metal sill 40. Ac-

cording to a preferred embodiment of thisinvention,

these elements are made of relatively light gauge material rolled or bent to the desired configuration and then welded together as shown to form the frame for the louver.

1n the embodiment shown, the jamb is provided with an integral flashing portion comprising a first segment 42 which diverges outwardly and laterally from the outside edge of the jamb, and another segment 44 integral with the segment 42 which projects laterally away from the body of the jamb and the louver opening. The segments 42 and 44 are thus proportioned and positioned to form a surface to surface fit with the rib 30 of the panel 14 adjacent the side of the louver, sothat the segment 42 fits against the sloped side 46 of the rib and the segment 44 fits against the flat crest 48 of the rib. When the wall panels used have ribs of different shapes, the segments 42 and 44 are bent to fit such different shapes. Thus the sealing between the flashing portion of the jamb and the wall panel is equivalent to that between adjacent overlapped panels. A self-tapping screw 50 or the like extends through the crest of the rib and through a fastener opening (not shown) provided in the segment 44 to fasten the jamb tightly against the rib. If desired, cementing material or a mastic can be provided between the two surfaces to further insure a leakproof fit, although in most cases this is not necessary because the close engagement of the surfaces insures that there will be no leakage.

In a preferred design, and as shown in the drawing, the inside'edge of the jamb 36 is bent inwardly somewhat at 52 and then has a channel portion 54 formed on its rear edge for stiffening of the jamb and also to provide a channel to catch and collect any water which may flow around the end of the blades 56. Intermediate the channel and the portion 52, the jamb is provided with openings to receive pivot pins 58 on which the blades 56 are pivotally mounted.

The header 38 is also formed of relatively lightweight sheet metal which is bent downwardly at the front, wall engaging edge to form a first flashing portion section 60 which fits behind the foreshortened wall panels above the louver, and through which mounting screws 62 are engaged in fastening holes to hold the louver tightly against the wall. Formed integrally with the first flashing portion segment is a second segment 64 projecting outwardly through the opening in the wall to beyond the outermost portion of the ribs 30. A third integral segment 66 of the flashing portion projects downwardly from the outer edge of the second portion to form a drip lip.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing the back edge of the header is bent downwardly as at 68 and then angled inwardly as at 70 between the portion 68 and another downwardly extending portion 72 which extends below the upper edge of the top blade 56, thereby forming a barrier to prevent water from blowing through the louver above the upper blade. If desired or found necessary, a packing material 74 may be packed in the channel 54 at its upper end behind the portion 68 of the header.

In the embodiment shown each blade has fastened thereto a bracket 76 which is pivotally connected to an operator bar 78 in such a manner that vertical movement of the operator bar causes the blades to open and close. Each of the blades is provided at its edge remote from the pivot with a longitudinally extending raised portion 80 which is positioned and proportioned so as to cover the pivot of the blade immediately therebelow when the blades are in closed position, thus allowing the lower edge of each blade to contact the blade therebelow and provide tight closure of the louver against any leakage. The position of the blades in closed form is depicted in FIG. 4, in which there is also shown an operator pull chain 82 which may be used to raise the blades to open position. In some cases it may also be desirable to provide spring means or other means to hold the blades in closed position.

As shown in FIG. 4 the sill 40 consists of a sheet metal member having an upwardly bent portion 84 at the rear edge against which the lower edge of the lowermost blade 86 lies in closed position. The sill slopes downwardly and outwardly from the rear edge and has formed on its front edge, integrally therewith, a downwardly projecting flashing portion 88 which is outside the wall member 90 therebelow, which may, for example, form a part of the foundation 12 or, in a case where the louver is spaced above the foundation, may consist of wall panels like the panels 14, etc. Screws such as the screw 92 may be used to fasten the flashing portion to the wall member, passing through fastening holes provided in the flashing portion.

In the embodiment of the drawing a screen 34, of a type well known in the art, extends between the jambs and the header and the sill. In the embodiment shown the screen is formed of a tubular frame 94 having screen wire 96 retained in a groove 98 by means of a retainingmember 100. The screen frame may be held in place by means of screws 102 at the top and by means of removable pins 104 at the bottom. As shown the screen is preferably substantially flush with the wall in which the louver is installed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, two louvers 32 are placed side by side in a wall opening. The wall panels 106 are shown in the drawing spaced away from the headers 38 with broken lines indicating their installed position. As is shown, the outer flashing portions 44 on the adjacent jambs of the louvers overlap each other and are in turn overlapped by the lapped ribs of the superposed wall panels to form a water tight joint, the assembly being held together by the screws 50.

The advantages of the structure of this invention may be achieved in other modifications, as, for example, where rigidly positioned blades are used instead of adjustable blades as shown in the drawing. Furthermore, in the case of wall panels having ribs shaped differently from those shown in the drawing, the flashing portions of the jambs will be made to conform to the shape of the ribs and thereby provide a surface to surface engagment.

The frame design of the louver of this invention provides adequate support for the louver and for the adjacent wall panels in most installations. In some installations, however, where heavy louvers must be installed at elevated locations in a wall it may be necessary to have additional support members, such as studs, to support the louver on the frame of the building rather than on the wall panels themselves.

These and other modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the invention is not considered to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and disclosed herein but only as set forth by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a wall system composed of overlapping ribbed sheet metal panels fastened to structural members to form an outside wall and a louver positioned in an opening in said wall to provide ventilation therethrough, said louver comprising a frame having opposed jambs, a header and a sill enclosing an opening, and horizontally extending louver blades installed in said opening, the improvement which comprises integrally formed flashing portions on each of said jambs, header and sill to prevent leakage between the frame and the panels,

the panel on each side of the louver having a rib on its edge immediately adjacent the louver, the flashing portion on each jamb extending laterally from the outer edge of each jamb and being configured and positioned to provide surface to surface contact with the adjacent panel rib, I

the flashing portion on the header extending downwardly from the outer edge of the header behind the wall panel above the louver, outwardly to be- 6 inside edge of the jamb is formed as a channel extending toward said louver opening, to provide stiffening of said jamb and a water-barrier to catch leakage around the ends of the blades.

4. A wall system as defined by claim 1 and including fastening means fastening said louver to said wall extending through the jamb flashing, the sill flashing, and the portion of the header flashing which eirtends downwardly from the outer edge of the header. 

1. In a wall system composed of overlapping ribbed sheet metal panels fastened to structural members to form an outside wall and a louver positioned in an opening in said wall to provide ventilation therethrough, said louver comprising a frame having opposed jambs, a header and a sill enclosing an opening, and horizontally extending louver blades installed in said opening, the improvement which comprises integrally formed flashing portions on each of said jambs, header and sill to prevent leakage between the frame and the panels, the panel on each side of the louver having a rib on its edge immediately adjacent the louver, the flashing portion on each jamb extending laterally from the outer edge of each jamb and being configured and positioned to provide surface to surface contact with the adjacent panel rib, the flashing portion on the header extending downwardly from the outer edge of the header behind the wall panel above the louver, outwardly to beyond the ribs of the wall panel, and downwardly to form a drip lip, and the sill extending outwardly to beyond the ribs of the wall panel and having its flashing portion extending downwardly from the outer edge of the sill outside the wall panel.
 2. A wall system as defined by claim 1 and including a screen substantially flush with the wall panels extending between the jamb flashing portions, the header flashing portion, and the sill.
 3. A wall system as defined by claim 1 wherein the inside edge of the jamb is formed as a channel extending toward said louver opening, to provide stiffening of said jamb and a water-barrier to catch leakage around the ends of the blades.
 4. A wall system as defined by claim 1 and including fastening means fastening said louver to said wall extending through the jamb flashing, the sill flashing, and the portion of the header flashing which extends downwardly from the outer edge of the header. 